Thirsting for God in Daily Work

by Ann Voskamp

We must drink. Or die.

Yet, dare I confess? Too often, miserably too often, I don't want to drink from His cup.

I thirst for God's goodnesses. I pant for his blessings. But to drink from his cup? I crave days laced with comfort. Fulfilling marriage with little self-sacrifice. Thoughtful children with meager investment.

Successful work with quick shortcuts. That cup of salvation seems too heavy to lift to dry lips.

And I wonder: is it true too of the body of the Christ? "Many are eager to be happy with him; few wish to suffer anything for him," writes Thomas á Kempis. "Many will follow him as far as the breaking of bread, but few will remain to drink from his passion. Many love Christ as long as they encounter no hardship..."

But is that love?

Anxious to molt free of the tightening burden of annoying coworkers, aging parents, demanding children, the responsibilities relentlessly mounting, we plead, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." I make normal everyday problems into a Garden of Gethsemane. I writhe at the thought of daily dying. I pray, "Give us our daily bread, my expected luxuries, but no, I'll pass on the cup."

If I pray for no hardship, do I really love?

Aren't I the one who daily collects God's blessings like manna? Words from his Word, nourishment cupped in a bowl, lilt of birds lighting, sunlight pooling on floor, splash of sunset at day's end. Redemption. Mercy. Abundant life. I gather his gifts.

There are times, not frequent enough, when I rouse to it all and ask with the Psalmist, "How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?" (Ps. 116:12).

But the answer the Psalmist offers is the one that I too often choke on, can't quite get down. "I will lift up the cup of salvation" (Ps. 116:13). Is that why the cup is heavy, too painful to lift? Because in salvation, there is a dying to our wants. And an embracing of his.

So I let him spoon the words in deliberately. So I don't die. (And yet do.) I sit for hours, waiting for an appointment. A computer rebels before a deadline. A project unravels. He asks me to accept, lift, sip deeply, "How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup." Perhaps, in small, unremarkable ways, I too can enter into the communion joy of dying to self? A child wails and clings, and I'm late and the oatmeal burns. Again to open dry lips: "Give thanks for his torrent of good. Lift up the cup. Drink it all down." Perhaps, in this high calling to humble living, it is possible to remember daily his far greater sacrifice, his innumerable unmerited kindnesses, and choose to give thanks for whatever he gives in the moment—all of it.

Yes, to drink of his passion. In choosing to drink down the moments simply as they come, without chaffing, is this the wholesale gratitude he entreats of us?

Amid the busyness, how do you remember to surrender and drink deeply of the cup of salvation?

Editor's note: This article was originally published on The High Calling. You can view that blog here. The photo above was found here.

Comments

Ray Blunt

Wonderful, simply a wonderful reminder in a world and I daresay a church culture that would soften this so difficult message. Thank God we are yoked with Christ and not alone. Thanks, Ann for this.

Dean Smith

What a meaningful contrast, readiness to ask for and receive the bread, but hesitation, resistance to drinking the cup. Great challenge!

dave

"Amid the busyness...?" (to answer the question posed)

...I try to consciously acknowledge that each breath I take, involuntarily at times, is provided for me by the grace of God. The practice of this simple recognition (when I'm in a good place) helps me realize my utter dependence on God, the necessity of yielding my self-rights and self-serving arrogance, and wonder in what way He wants to use me today. In long suffering? In humility and lowly service? In suffering and pain? I CAN glorify Him in all things!

Peter Morelli

I question myself nearly everyday on this very topic. I want to think less of myself and give more to others but I never seem to get there. Accepting the little (some big) annoyances of life in a more humble way would be a great start. This blog reminds me of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's quote about cheap v. costly grace. He states, "Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life." ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~

Loran

I, too, have struggled with this desire. I was ordained, served the church for a dozen years, then went into a related corporate position, then back into the church for five years before retirement and retreading. What would happen to my spiritual life when I was re-entering the corporate world and not having the privilege of spending regular daily time in Scripture study and prayer. Hours demanded from early morn until late evening; travel and deadlines far too often competing for the non-expandable hours of a day or a week? How--- O Lord?

I was reminded of an often spoken suggestion --- we are the only Bible some people read! In that I wondered how to be that faithful "Bible-to-be-seen" person. Colossians 3 came to mind and Galatians 5:22-23 and I Corinthians 13. These descriptions of the kind of presentation we are called to make, as a person, to the world seeking an answer to spiritual reality. And in the comfortable and confident living of knowing that the Lord had done so much for me that I could not help but adopt and live out these "words of exhortation" that came from these Scriptures. And suddenly my life was filled with many places to be of service in the midst of all the demands of the corporate world. Some of my most memorable opportunities came in the midst of these years. And people asked often how I could be so joyful in my living ---- and I could tell them about my Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Did I loose out on spiritual things? No, for I was rewarded with so many others who came my way with a new thought, a new word, a new understanding. My life was very greatly rewarded for my long hours of work and demanding levels of excellence when I put on the 'Jesus clothes' recommended in these Scripture passages. My life was opened up to the ministry of others as I looked for ways to express Jesus to those who were around me in that maelstrom of work.

Today I look back on days when I felt as you have expressed, Ann, and I can almost feel the frustration I had back then. And then when I put on those attributes of Jesus that are spoken of in these Scriptures, I found a whole new spiritual reality I had never dreamed about in all my life. I am twenty years past that corporate experience and can truthfully say, putting on Jesus --- the gifts of the Spirit, the clothes to which Paul directs us in Colossians, and really adopting the love of I Corinthians, has given me a career that I could have found no where else. I can say, "Been there; done that!"

---- and may the peace of Jesus Christ be with you always!

Ro Eliott

Yes, to drink of his passion. In choosing to drink down the moments simply as they come, without chaffing, is this the wholesale gratitude he entreats of us?

This I can chew on for a long time....I love your honest, truthful heart.

Blessings~

Claudia

What a fabulous reminder; I need one every morning! To live in a country where we can express our faith, and worship freely. Work is hard, but we get our paycheck. Children wail and cling; but they are ours to love! We are so blessed. The worst experiences can stretch us to new levels, if we allow them to.

Thank you!

Sheree Hanna

Thank-you for your heartfelt confessions and encouragement, Ann. I cannot tell you how many times I have been encouraged by the Father's words through you. It is your transparency and painful honesty in exposing your weakness, reaching desperately for His strength that reminds me to cling to Jesus in the difficulties of my own life. It is in the small, everyday moments that He sends others who love Him to lift me up and remind me that He will never abandon me, no matter what.

We are called to share our Lord's suffering. I admit that I shrink from the thought, but He is helping me to lean on Him even in this. May the Lord bless you, dear sister in Christ. He is glorified in your words and life.

Jeanne Hanna

It is always a comfort to me to read the testimonies of other Christians who have the same concerns and questions that I too have. To read how they cope, and face the challenges of life.

To die to self is the ultimate goal, to be more like the one who died for me. To think on his love and mercy toward us, especially when we were so unworthy. To see Christ in a person is the looking glass we all must face. Thank you for sharing.

Marcus Goodyear

I find I can't remember anything if I get too busy. The only way to remember is to stop the busy-ness. In some ways, my whole life has been about learning to say no to the good things that sometimes keep me too busy.

This is hard to learn because our society is obsessed with productivity and efficiency. Even Q itself must feel like a frantic marathon of speakers and information. After an event like Q that is so busy, I need time for quiet reflection or nothing at all sinks in.

Nacole Simmons

I loved the analogy of refusing to drink from the cup--yes, I do this everyday, and everyday, He reminds me that if I want the grace and goodness of my Lord, I must drink down the suffering--but it is hard amidst chronic illness, demanding children, neverending responsibilities, and the pain of failed relationships. It is not easy to live in a fallen world. Once again, you have opened my heart to take in His words. thank you.

How do I stop amongst the busyness?

I say bye to friends or I dont say anything at all and just disappear from facebook--for days, weeks...I have also learned, like the commenter above, to say "no" to things...like baby showers (as bad as that sounds), extra church functions, or answering emails everyday...and sometimes saying no to these extra things is just for a season...saying no to things so that I am able to keep the gospel priority in my home...I do my utmost to make meditating on His word daily a priority because I always find that doing this slows my wild, anxious heart down and helps me to focus on what God would have my mind to be on...I lay in the hammock outside with the children or play games with them under the tree on a blanket...sometimes I just sit and watch them play...but these are not "lazy" things...I have to force myself to take this rest that is good for the soul.

Thanks so much for sharing this. I am truly blessed: this is just what I needed to read! Thank you Ann, for sharing your heart for Jesus in all honesty, tenderness and frustration...His love is amazing isn't it? Never a dull moment. : )

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